t revoked all the trading privileges of the company; and
their dividends to stockholders were then paid out of the taxes assessed on
the people of India. They could not trade and could not govern except under
the control of Parliament. All the wars of India have been fought by the
British nation. After the mutiny, of which more hereafter, the company was
compelled to cede its powers to the crown in 1858.

"The native soldiers of Bengal were called Sepoys, and the name has been
applied to all native troops. Some small mutinies occurred in this arm of
the service in the presidency. Early in 1857 the garrison of Meerut, near
Delhi, revolted, and the British troops failed to suppress it. The Sepoys
marched to Delhi, where they were joined by the native troops and the mob.
The descendant of the Great Mogul, who lived in the palace of his ancestors
under British protection, was proclaimed emperor, and his empire
re-established.

"Probably 90,000 soldiers, infantry and cavalry, were in a state of
rebellion. In many instances they had murdered their officers and their
families. They were spread over a broad country, and held forts, arsenals,
and treasuries. They were disciplined troops armed with European artillery
and muskets, and supplied with ammunition. In portions of the country the
British were isolated, as in the camp before Delhi, and in the works at
Agra, Allahabad, and Lucknow. The mutiny extended over an area of 100,000
square miles, with a population of 40,000,000. It came at the worst season
of the year; and if it had not been speedily suppressed, it would have
spread over the whole country. Many believed that the knell of the empire
had sounded.

"At that time there were 40,000 European troops"--

"Land, ho!" shouted the lookout man; and the cry was repeated by the
sailors and the officers.

"We will attend to the land now, and I will resume latter," said Lord
Tremlyn, as he descended from the rostrum.

CHAPTER XIV

SIR HENRY HAVELOCK AND THE MUTINY

The announcement that land was in sight produced some excitement, and the
speaker good-naturedly paused to enable the company to see whatever was to
be seen. They looked to the eastward, but they could see nothing. They
stood upon the promenade, and strained their eyes to the utmost; but it
required a nautical eye to make land out of the dim haze in the distance,
for that was all there was of it.

"